10 GA Parker Hammer Lifter Ser#20424
 

A friend of mine was left a high grade Parker in rough shape. 10 Ga. Ser. #20424.
Markings: "3" on barrel lug. "5" on flat part of barrel.
The gun has a good deal of rust. The bores seem fine. The action is flawless.
I was thinking of sending it to an expert in Parker restoration to see if it worth restoring. Can anyone suggest some options?
Thanks.

Brad Bachelder in Grand Rapids Michigan for an authentic Parker restoration.

Mark

That is something beautiful. I like the hammers on it. Makes me want a Parker hammer gun.

Brad is good, there's no question about that.

Recommend you do a lot of homework first. There are a number of restoration experts who can bring that gun to it's former glory and each one uses slightly different methods and gets slightly different results. Take a close look at examples of all of their work and compare them with known original high-grade Parker Bros. hammerguns.... then decide.

Not trying to sway you but simply pointing out that there are options and for the money you're likely to spend on such a worthy project you need to go into it with both eyes open.

If you can't afford the prices you will be quoted... either leave it alone or sell it to someone who will do it justice.

That is a stunning $250 or A grade Parker. That is some of the best engraving on a gun of that grade which I believe is the highest grade Parker made at the time. I will second the recommendation Of Brad Bachelder. His metal restoration is as close to original as I have ever seen. You have a treasure!
David

That is a nice looking gun. You might want to consider just cleaning it up. You might be surprisrd.

You might not consider just cleaning it up. That gun deserves something special. The forend wood interests me. Looks like a semi beavertail.

oh my! oh my! it is wonderful as it is! please, please do not molest it...

Before going into a full restoration with case colors and soup to nuts, I would ask Brad if he may be able to just clean up the metal to the frame / hammers, etc ... removing any remaining surface rust. Of course it all depends how deep the pits are. You may be looking at re-engraving to the breech balls. If a good cleanup is possible, I would keep the frame "as is" cleaned up and restore the Damascus barrels, and a light cleaning of the wood.

Congrats on a great Parker.

Clean it up and SHOOT it. Looks great as is. If 10 gauge shells are to expensive , use inserts and use 12 gauge.

I respectfully disagree...

It is much too rare a Parker to do as suggested above.

That is an exceptionally beautiful gun, and as Dean says, quite rare. The 3 on the bottom of the barrel lug is the frame size, and the 5 on the barrel flats is the barrel weight. It is an A grade, and if I'm not mistaken, post dates the time when they were graded by their cost.
Please don't be tempted into even the slightest bit of cleaning. When you seek out the advice of experts, you will be hit by sticker shock at what a proper restoration will cost, but believe me, it is a fraction of the guns potential value. A good cleaning by an experienced expert may be all it needs. If the lockplate engraving is in the same condition as the receiver, you don't need anyone chasing the engraving. Thank you for sharing it with us.

I believe the unstruck barrel weight is 5# 6 oz.. The frame size is indeed #3.
I think the 5 on the barrel flats is the equivalent of a B grade lifter but I am no expert on high grade Parkers. All in all a beautiful Parker.
Best regards,
Erick

I stand corrected. SN 20424 is listed as a D6.

The DD on the barrel flats indicates Finest Damascus and I believe the 5 indicates 5-Iron Crolle Damascus.

That is indeed a very beautiful gun! It has been stored incorrectly for some period of time, but is absolutely an honest gun. Just remarkably un-messed with.
This is one of those times that you just take a deep breath, and proceed slowly, and with caution. I'm not qualified to tell you what those steps are, but there are those here that are.
You certainly made the right first step by coming here.

In the book as a grade 6.

Wow! there seems to be a circle behind the hammer what's in it. More close ups of lock plates and 4end wood please. What a gun. ch

Thanks so much for the input. I will begin to do my homework!
My friend was left several other guns by her late father. Her siblings want them sold. The list includes: two Winchester model 1895's (one has saddle ring missing)
Win model 70 .30-06 ser #258184 (1953)
Rem model 8 .35 Rem. Ser#58566
AH Fox s/s. 12Ga
Rem 742 .308
Rem 7400 carbine .30-06
FN Browning Auto 5 Sweet 16
Rem hump back 12 Ga
Savage .35 Rem pump
Colt SA Army .38Spl Ser#25512SA (1959) (slight 1/2" holster wear both sides of muzzle)
S&W DA .45 with lanyard ring Ser#3882054 (Perfect)
Colt Gov. US Marine Corps Iwo Jima Commererative in wood/glass case with all papers and white gloves for handling (Perfect. Never fired)
48 Star American Flag
Japanese Flag bravely taken by her Dad in combat (USMC) on Iwo Jima (the person he got it from didn't need it anymore) Perfect condition.
Collection is in Massachusetts.
She is still finding guns in his house and barn as I write this.
Thanks for your help.

Sounds like the Mother Lode!

When she opened the closet doors in her Dad's house, I felt like a kid in a candy store!
I was given my first shotgun ( single shot .410) by my Dad when I was 10. He raised bird dogs, and I could never replace the memories we shared in the field until he passed away at the age of 53. Most people in Massachusetts could never understand a redneck like me. I have been collecting guns ever since, but I have never seen workmanship like this Parker.

I'm in Massachusetts and I'm about as redneck as you'll find here.

He speaks the truth!

Thanks, brothers! I'm glad I'm not alone.

Does the Parker Story say how many of these were made?

Only sixty-three Grade-6 Lifter Parkers were made and only eighteen of them were made in ten gauge with 32" barrels.

The spring,2006 issue of DGJ has a great article on the Grade 6 hammer guns. Lots of pictures.

Good information. I might have to order that issue.

To ch:
The circular areas behind the hammers are engraved with two incoming ducks over a marsh on the right side and two partridge in a wooded scene on the left side of the gun.
It has been a very busy week, but I will post more photos after work on Saturday.
Thank you for your interest and advice.

Barry, please consider this proposal...

Where the collection is in Massachusetts, and presumably you are in Massachusetts... and I am in Massachusetts, I wonder if I might be allowed to see this Parker before anything is done to it?

I promise I won't offer to buy it.

Dean,
Of course you can. My office is in Cohasset.
E-mail: dr.bct@ comcast.net

Thanks for the help,
Barry

I'll send you an email and we can arrange a time.

Regards, Dean

never thought I would be thinking some one was lucky to live in Massachusetts :rotf:

Dean because he gets to look this gun over
and
Barry because he gets Dean's knowledge and insight

Dran Could you take a camera along and get some better pics for the forum. That is if the gentleman will allow it.

A beautiful gun that has not been treated as well as it deserves. I have 2 gun being restored right now by Brad Bachelder but I have also used Doug Turnbull. I would advise talking to a couple of restorers and see what they advise. Kirk Merrington does good work as well. Don't be in a rush to make up your mind, once you restore it can never be undone. The gun is 130 years old, it will last a few months while you decide what to do. It is a very special gun.

Just goes to show that a high grade hammer gun, even in this condition which does not look to be that bad! will make you do a double take, I believe that the high grade hammer guns were some of Parker Bros best work, I personally have an addiction for them, I can look a a gun like this for hours and find interesting details to wonder about. A nice gun for sure I would like to see more photos please, Gary

More photos of Lifter Parker Ser. #20424 Grade 6
 

Please see the attached photos of the Parker as requested by forum members.
Dean will take his own photos if he wishes.
Thanks for all the advice,
Barry

It is important for you to request a PGCA letter of provenance to find out who actually ordered this gun and what features he requested.

I visited this gun today and it is everything I had dreamed it would be... a fantastic original, unmessedwith Grade 6 Lifter in 10 gauge. It has some issues which are obvious in the pictures Barry has supplied but they all can be overcome by the careful hand of expert craftsmen.
I chose not to take any pictures of it because Barry's pictures show enough detail and I asked him to take more pictures of other areas of the gun.
The worst rust areas are the right breech ball or fence - the trigger guard bow is the worst on the whole gun - and the barrels are covered in rust but it is not deep and the DD Damascus pattern is exceptionally fine. The nicest surprise is that the bores are about mint!

I met the owner of this gun and she is a delightful lady and it turns out that we have mutual friends/relatives... small world!

Incidentally, Barry Tufts is a great guy and as it turns out, is very into guns - One of Us, so to speak.

In a world where trusting individuals are so often taken advantage of, it was so refreshing to meet such a class act as Dean. His kindness, patience and incredible expertise put us both at ease. Traveling through Boston traffic at that hour just to do a favor for total strangers is more than anyone should have to bear! We greatly appreciate all the help and advice Dean and the other members have given us. His offer to purchase that old Parker for $65, a whopping $5 more than the gun sold for in 1882 was more than generous! I'm not sure if Dean was serious or just impersonating Charlton Heston, but when the owner asked him for her gun back after he held it for an hour and a half, I could swear I heard him say in a demonic voice, "From my cold, dead hands!"
In all seriousness, thank you Dean for your assistance.
My best to all!
Barry

I will post more photos this weekend.